The Other Alpha
412 Words
Pearl
I hadn’t heard that name in years.
River.
The boy who used to sneak into my dreams—and out of my window. The one I thought was dead after the attack on the rogue border.
Now Ezra says he’s back.
And I don’t know whether to run to him… or from him.
The guards opened the gates just before sunset. A lone figure crossed the threshold, moving slow, confident. Not like a rogue. Like a king returning to his stolen kingdom.
He was taller now. Harder. His black hair longer, eyes sharper. And when he saw me?
He smirked.
“Pearl,” River said, voice low and smooth like midnight. “Still just as dangerous.”
Ezra stiffened beside me.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he growled.
“Then kill me,” River said casually, gaze never leaving mine. “Or let me talk to her.”
The pack warriors looked between them like they were seconds from drawing blood.
I stepped forward.
“Say what you came to say, River.”
He looked at Ezra. Then slowly—boldly—he walked right up to me.
Close enough to touch. Close enough to burn.
“I didn’t die, Pearl. I changed. I became something darker. Stronger. And I came back for one thing.”
My breath hitched.
“You.”
Ezra was in front of me in a heartbeat, shoving River back.
“She’s mine.”
“No,” River said with a deadly smile. “You rejected her. You gave her up. I didn’t.”
I stood frozen between them, heart racing, wolf snarling inside me.
Because she didn’t know who to choose.
One boy was my past. The one who once made me believe in soft things.
The other was my future. The one who burned me and kissed me like he owned me.
And now both were staring at me like I was their prize.
“This isn’t a game,” I said sharply. “You don’t get to fight over me like I’m property.”
“You’re not property,” River said softly. “You’re power. And I want to stand beside it.”
“You already do,” Ezra snapped. “You just don’t deserve it.”
Their wolves were close to the surface, eyes glowing, shoulders tight.
And me?
I turned away and walked back inside, leaving both Alphas staring after me.
If they wanted me…
They’d have to earn it.
- Writer
